It was strange to see the Penn State sideline without James Franklin on it at the end of the 2025 season and even stranger to see the former Nittany Lions head coach donning Virginia Tech colors. But the real shock will be Week 1 next season when Matt Campbell leads Penn State out onto the field at Beaver Stadium, and Franklin does the same in Blacksburg.
How should Penn State fans feel about the change? Well, the ever-expanding sect of the fanbase that wanted Franklin gone is still rejoicing, and the Campbell era should be met with overwhelming optimism. That’s easy. The tougher question is, how should Penn State fans feel about Franklin?
Over his 11.5 years in Happy Valley, Franklin led Penn State to its fourth Big Ten title in 2016, three New Year’s Six Bowl wins, six seasons with double-digit wins, and its first-ever College Football Playoff appearance in 2024.
So, while his tenure ran its course and came to a swift and unexpected end last season, ultimately, Penn State fans should be thankful for the Franklin years and root for his success at Virginia Tech, at least to a point. That’s how his former players feel.
Asked former #PennState DE Dani Dennis-Sutton about James Franklin landing at Virginia Tech.
— Johnny McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) January 28, 2026
“He found a new home, a place that appreciates him. So I’m happy for him. … I’m a Virginia Tech fan now, except when they play Penn State obviously.”
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Dani Dennis-Sutton is ‘a Virginia Tech fan now.’
Johnny McGonigal of PennLive asked Dani Dennis-Sutton, who spent 3.5 years under Franklin, how he felt about his former coach and his new chapter, and the former five-star recruit summed it up perfectly.
“It was tough when coach Franklin left,” Dennis-Sutton told McGonigal at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. “Obviously, it was an unfortunate situation, but I’m happy for Coach Franklin and his family. He’s happy there; he found a new home, a place that appreciates him. So, I’m happy for him, I’m a Virginia Tech fan now, except when they play Penn State.”
It’s been clear how Franklin’s former players felt about him, and Dennis-Sutton’s “a place that appreciates him” line demonstrates that. Penn State fans were largely finished with Franklin, and it’s become apparent how deep that sentiment cut into his players.
It seems that everyone is happy with how things shook out, Franklin at Virginia Tech and Campbell at Penn State. So, now it’s time for Penn State fans to start appreciating the Franklin years much more. It’s important to remember how he brought the program back, not simply that he couldn’t, ultimately, finish the job.